Koppal: BJP Sweeps Assembly Bypoll
Daijiworld Media Network – Koppal (SP)
Koppal, Sep 29: At the end of 13th and final round of counting of votes, Karadi Sanganna has secured 60,405 votes, ahead of Basavaraj Hitnal of the Congress (47917) and Pradip Gowda (20719) of the JD(S). Karadi has won the bypoll with a margin of 12,488 votes.
With this, official announcement of the victory of the BJP candidate has remained a mere formality.
Chief Minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, said that the people of Koppal have supported the BJP because of the government’s development initiatives and collective leadership. He said that his government is committed to develop Koppal constituency. Karadi Sanganna said that the people have supported the policies of the state government and the stress laid on development by the BJP.
Candidates of BJP, Congress and JD(S)
JD(S), which had won this seat in the last election, has faced the ignominy of lagging far behind its two other rivals. Commenting on the situation, JD(S leader, Y S V Datta, said that the people of the constituency do not seem to have given importance to the issue of corruption, which got widespread support elsewhere after Anna Hazare fast. He said Karadi Sanganna’s personal charisma, his contacts with the voters, his work, influence he wields there, and local issues had given an upper hand to the BJP. He said that the victory is not that of the BJP as a party, but the individual victory of Karadi Sanganna.
Congress leader, Siddaramaiah, refused to meet the media persons or give his comments about the Koppal bypoll result, when contacted. KPCC president, G Parameshwar, accused BJP of distributing money to voters and buying votes. He expressed unhappiness at the failure of the election commission to stop this menace.
In the meanwhile, Laxman Savadi and C C Patil are on a visit of Koppal. The BJP top brass is happy that the voters have wholeheartedly supported the party’s strategy of ‘Operation Kamala’.
Over 70 percent of the around 185,000 voters had cast their ballot in the polling held September 26 for Koppal.
With the Koppal victory, the BJP has 121 members, including the speaker, in the 225-seat house that has one nominated member. It has the support of one Independent.
The Congress has 71 members and JD-S 26. There are five more Independents.
Update 11.30 am
With only three more rounds to go, victory of BJP candidate, Karadi Sanganna, is almost assured. While BJP activists have begun arrangements to celebrate, state Chief Minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, speaking from Bangalore, expressed his happiness at the support got by his party from the electorate.
As at the end of the tenth round, Karadi Sanganna’s tally stood at 40,831 as against 28,412 of Congress candidate, and 14,268 of the JDS. He has built a strong lead of 12,419 votes, which is felt unassailable. It is gathered that the BJP candidate has consolidated his lead further in the 11th round.
Update 11 am
BJP has continued to retain its lead even after eight rounds of counting. Karadi Sanganna of the BJP has polled 32,505 votes as against 22,214 of the Congress candidate and 12,429 of the JD(S). The BJP has increased its lead to 10291 at the end of the eighth round of counting.
As per reports, the BJP has sustained its lead in the ninth round also. Figures are yet to be announced.
Update 10.45 am
Karadi Sanganna has increased his lead to 9305 at the end of the sixth round of counting. The BJP has polled 24,281 votes, JD(S) has got 9,987 votes, while the Congress canidate could muster 14976 votes.
It is gathered that the BJP has further increased its lead in the seventh round. Figures of the seventh round are yet to be announced. Interestingly, the JD(S) has lost steam after initial rounds, and has steadily been trailing in the third spot.
Update 10.30 am
Karadi Sanganna has increased his lead to 6,124 at the end of the fourth round of counting. The BJP has polled 16,701 votes, JD(S) has got 10,577 votes, while the Congress canidate could muster only 7,822 votes.
It is gathered that the BJP has further increased its lead in the fifth round. Figures of the fifth round are yet to be announced.
Update - 10 am
Karadi Sanganna has increased his lead to 5,255 at the end of the third round of counting. The BJP has polled 12,469 votes, JD(S) has got 7,214 votes, while the Congress canidate could muster only 6,520 votes.
It is gathered that the BJP has further increased its lead in the fourth round. Figures of the fourth round are yet to be announced.
With the steady improvement in the lead, BJP activists are expecting its candidate to win. Ten more rounds are to come.
It may be recalled that initially, Karadi Sanganna was unwilling to contest the election fearing backlash from the electorate which had elected him last time as an MLA on JD(S) ticket.
Earlier Update:
Sanganna, who is contesting the bypoll as a BJP candidate, is ahead by other candidates by 3,987 votes at the conclusion of second round of counting. Both Pradip Gowda of the JD(S) and Basavaraj Hitnal of the Congress, are trailing. In the counting of postal ballots too, Karadi Sanganna was ahead of others. JD(S) is in second spot, while the Congress is relegated to the third spot. BJP has been maintaining its steady lead since beginning.
The final result is expected to be announced by today afternoon. Counting is in progress at Gavisiddheshwara College here.